It was bound to happen eventually. Neil Patrick Harris, the man who can host anything, finally stumbled.
Obviously, it's a thankless job. Academy Awards hosts have the impossible task of impressing millions during a nearly four-hour slog of a ceremony, which has only gotten more difficult in recent years as the snarky crowds on Twitter sharpen their knives in advance. However, some thought Harris — with tons of hosting experience on his résumé — would finally be the person to conquer this goal.
As it turns out, not so much. While Harris does a great job hosting the Emmy Awards, the Tony Awards and even the TV Land Awards, the Oscars proved to be too much of a monster for even NPH to tame.
It wasn't a James Franco situation — Harris really tried. You don't attempt a "Birdman" parody like this if you're not trying.
The overall problem was that Harris as host was just OK. Occasionally, he was even good. But the Oscars require way more than that to make an impact. Here's what didn't work:
The wealth of puns and silly jokes fell flat.
"The subject of 'Citizenfour,' Edward Snowden, could not be here tonight for some treason," Harris said after the film won for best documentary feature, followed by eye-rolls everywhere.
"This next presenter is so lovely you could eat her up with her spoon," he said gleefully before introducing (you guessed it!) Reese Witherspoon.
Or: "Welcome back to the Oscars. Or as I like to call them, the Dependent Spirit Awards."
Audience interaction needs to actually be about the audience.
There's a reason Ellen DeGeneres's world-famous selfie went crazy viral last year — it featured tons of unlikely stars all together in one photo. While clearly a gimmick, it was still intriguing. However, Harris' audience gags were all really about him, such as the "joke" that he forced David Oyelowo to read (to prove all jokes were better in a British accent). Or making Octavia Spencer watch over that mysterious lockbox all night, which wasn't quite worth the payoff for his "magic trick" where he predicted all of the night's big moments.
Make fun of the celebrities — they can take it!
"Often the only jokes that work on Oscar night are general swipes at the wealth and hype that the event represents," wrote Washington Post TV critic Hank Stuever. It's true — though NPH got in a dig at Oprah being a gazillionaire, he didn't really go after anyone in particular. (Save for suggesting the ridiculous $160,000 gift bags contain makeup, shoes and "an armored car ride to safety when the revolution comes.") We're not suggesting he go all Ricky Gervais, but some light mocking of celebrities goes a long way.
And if you're going to go with insults, go all the way.
Seth MacFarlane was memorable because although he was terrible, he committed to the offensive jokes. NPH started off topical, opening the show with "Tonight we honor Hollywood's best and whitest — sorry, brightest," taking a dig at the lack of diversity. But after that, it was all rather tame — even his joke about "American Sniper" Chris Kyle's 160 kills, "or as Harvey Weinstein calls it, a slow morning" fell flat.
Read the room.
Clearly, NPH was busy backstage and didn't hear producer Dana Perry's acceptance speech for documentary short, when she mentioned her son's suicide. NPH got up on stage and immediately made fun of her pom-pom gown: "It takes a lot of balls to wear a dress like that." The terribly timed joke went over just about as well as you would expect. Quick reaction is always the mark of a good host, but so is realizing when things just took a somber turn.
Click here to view album Oscars 2015: Stars grace the red carpet
Click here to view more photos from Oscars 2015.
The Washington Post
Tue Feb 24 2015
![Finally, something Neil Patrick Harris can't host: the Oscars Finally, something Neil Patrick Harris can't host: the Oscars](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/61369993976_295x200.jpg)
While Harris does a great job hosting the Emmy Awards, the Tony Awards and even the TV Land Awards, the Oscars proved to be too much of a monster for even NPH to tame.
![Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai? Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721117483_KimPangon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?
Bekas pengendali skuad negara itu dilaporkan sedang menjadi calon utama untuk mengisi jawatan pengurus kelab gergasi Korea Selatan, Ulsan Hyundai.
![Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/41482504881_TamanTasikTitiwang.jpg)
Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau
Daripada keluasan itu, sebanyak 977.55 hektar tanah telah diwartakan, manakala 1,416.24 hektar tanah lapang yang berpotensi akan dan sedang dalam proses diwartakan.
Guna jawatan untuk projek pembekalan, suami isteri ditahan
Sepasang suami isteri direman enam hari dalam siasatan penyalahgunaan jawatan untuk mendapatkan projek pembekalan bernilai lebih RM200,000.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
DBKL ubah lalu lintas Jalan Sultan Ismail bermula 22 Julai
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) akan melaksanakan perubahan lalu lintas di Jalan Sultan Ismail berkuat kuasa 22 Julai ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721116604_ChongZheminDewan.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
[TERKINI] Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka kembali teguh
Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka teguh sepanjang tahun ini, demikian menurut BMI, iaitu syarikat Fitch Solitions.
![Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: Suspek berkhidmat 5 tahun dalam PDRM Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: Suspek berkhidmat 5 tahun dalam PDRM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721102947_suspekbunuhNurFar.jpg)
Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: Suspek berkhidmat 5 tahun dalam PDRM
Anggota berusia 26 tahun terbabit bertugas di Balai Polis Slim River di bawah Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Muallim dengan pangkat lans koperal.
![Perunding pelaburan didakwa terlibat pengubahan wang haram hampir RM1 juta Perunding pelaburan didakwa terlibat pengubahan wang haram hampir RM1 juta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721117052_SaifulNizamSaharud.jpg)
Perunding pelaburan didakwa terlibat pengubahan wang haram hampir RM1 juta
Seorang perunding pelaburan mengaku tidak bersalah atas empat pertuduhan pengubahan wang haram berjumlah hampir RM1 juta.
Purata suhu meningkat 0.24 darjah celcius per dekad
Berdasarkan rekod dari tahun 1969 hingga 2019, purata suhu bulanan di Semenanjung Malaysia pada bulan Mei 2024 adalah 28.8 darjah celcius manakala purata suhu bulanan pada bulan Mei 1974 iaitu 50 tahun yang lalu adalah 26.6 darjah celcius.
ADUN dari kerajaan perpaduan sertai Pas
Menurut Takiyuddin, keahlian Muhamad Jailani yang juga wakil rakyat UMNO diterima pada 10 Jun tahun lalu, namun diumumkan secara rasmi hari ini.
![Oscar: Meriah dalam kepelbagaian, bagaimana peluang filem tempatan? Oscar: Meriah dalam kepelbagaian, bagaimana peluang filem tempatan?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-04/41619331938_minaridannomadland.jpg)
Oscar: Meriah dalam kepelbagaian, bagaimana peluang filem tempatan?
Perjalanan filem tempatan masih jauh untuk memperbaiki mutu filem tempatan dan membina rangkaian serta menyusun strategi pemasaran yang berkesan.
![Sean Connery pernah luahkan rasa menyampah terhadap watak James Bond Sean Connery pernah luahkan rasa menyampah terhadap watak James Bond](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-10/71604154724_TBSeanConnery.jpg)
Sean Connery pernah luahkan rasa menyampah terhadap watak James Bond
Dia pernah menolak tawaran Bekas Pengurus Machester United Matt Busy yang kagum dengan fizikal Sean untuk menjadi pemain bolasepak
![Teruk sangat ke filem AS? - Trump cemuh kemenangan filem Parasite di Anugerah Akademi Teruk sangat ke filem AS? - Trump cemuh kemenangan filem Parasite di Anugerah Akademi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-01/61578461361_trump.jpg)
Teruk sangat ke filem AS? - Trump cemuh kemenangan filem Parasite di Anugerah Akademi
Presiden Amerika Syarikat Donald Trump mencemuh Anugerah Akademi atas pengiktirafannya kepada filem Korea Selatan, Parasite sebagai filem terbaik di Oscars.
![Malaysia antara 93 negara hantar filem ke Oscar Malaysia antara 93 negara hantar filem ke Oscar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-10/81570496595_Oscarstatue.jpg)
Malaysia antara 93 negara hantar filem ke Oscar
Malaysia turut menyertai senarai itu dengan filem "M for Malaysia" arahan Ineza Rousille dan Dian Lee.
![Tiada siaran anugerah Oscars untuk Asia Pasifik Tiada siaran anugerah Oscars untuk Asia Pasifik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-02/71550802632_oscar.jpg)
Tiada siaran anugerah Oscars untuk Asia Pasifik
Oscars ke-91 berdepan pelbagai cabaran di mana individu yang sepatutnya menjadi hos, Kevin Hart, menarik diri susulan kontroversi Tweet beliau sebelum ini yang berbentuk diskriminasi.
![Gangguan seksual: Kevin Spacey didakwa lagi, kongsi video 'pelik' di YouTube Gangguan seksual: Kevin Spacey didakwa lagi, kongsi video 'pelik' di YouTube](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-10/41509356481_KevinSpacey.jpg)
Gangguan seksual: Kevin Spacey didakwa lagi, kongsi video 'pelik' di YouTube
Pelakon Kevin Spacey akan didakwa dengan pertuduhan yang dipercayai mempunyai kaitan dengan gangguan seksual.
![Filem '2001: A Space Odyssey' kembali dalam format IMAX Filem '2001: A Space Odyssey' kembali dalam format IMAX](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-08/61533303648_ASpaceOdyssey.jpg)
Filem '2001: A Space Odyssey' kembali dalam format IMAX
Proses pemindahan format filem epik sains fiksyen karya dan arahan Stanley Kubrick itu dibuat bawah pengawasan pengarah tersohor, Christopher Nolan.
![Actor Casey Affleck withdraws as 2018 Oscar presenter Actor Casey Affleck withdraws as 2018 Oscar presenter](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-01/61483926584_CaseyAffleck.jpg)
Actor Casey Affleck withdraws as 2018 Oscar presenter
Affleck, 42, was expected to present this year's best actress award in keeping with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tradition.
![#Oscars2016: Lapor Langsung Anugerah Akademi ke-88 #Oscars2016: Lapor Langsung Anugerah Akademi ke-88](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-02/71456713780_950x600.jpg)
#Oscars2016: Lapor Langsung Anugerah Akademi ke-88
Anugerah Akademi atau Oscar ke-88 berlangsung di Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles. Ia akan diacarakan oleh Chris Rock dan menyaksikan perebutan 24 kategori.
![Chris Rock bakal sentuh isu #OscarsSoWhite untuk monolog pembukaan Chris Rock bakal sentuh isu #OscarsSoWhite untuk monolog pembukaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-01/71453714740_ChrisRock.jpg)
Chris Rock bakal sentuh isu #OscarsSoWhite untuk monolog pembukaan
Chris Rock akan tetap menjadi hos walaupun beberapa selebriti bakal boikot acara itu kerana gagal iktiraf pelakon dan pengarah bukan berkulit putih.